NFL Power Rankings Week 16 – The Deceit Of Decency

When people say “the world is unfair”,  the NFL takes it upon themselves to prove it. Could you imagine your team having  already won double digit games looking up at another team in your division? Meanwhile there’s a team on the other side of the conference teetering on the brink of a losing record while simultaneously holding control of their own destiny for a division title.

The world is unfair and that’s the natural order of things in the NFL.

 

1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
A Patricks Mahomes injury could spell disaster for the Chiefs and their Super Bowl chances. He still hasn’t been ruled out of the game against Houston after suffering a mild high ankle sprain, so the Chiefs will see how it affects him in the next few days.

 

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
After their tenth win in a row, the Eagles will take on Washington in attempt to clinch the division title.

 

3. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
The Vikings have pushed their win streak to seven games. With Sam Darnold playing so well, you have to wonder what they decide to do in the offseason with J.J. McCarthy set to come back off of injury.

 

4. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
Josh Allen has 3,886 total yards from scrimmage with 37 total touchdowns and only five interceptions. He has 13 total touchdowns in his last three games.

 

5. Detroit Lions (12-2)
This version of the Lions teams they’ve had for the last few years will live and die with Dan Campbell’s decision making.

 

6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
The Packers have three games left and they could finish with a 12 win season or better. No team that has finished as a sixth or lower seed in the playoffs have finished with 12 or more wins.

 

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
T. J. Watt is now questionable for the game against Baltimore on Saturday. If they’re without him and George Pickens who’s already been out the last two games, they’re in for a long day.

 

8. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
Lamar Jackson has 4,323 yards from scrimmage 37 total touchdowns and only three interceptions. Could his third MVP be on its way?

 

9. Houston Texans (9-5)
Houston feasted on Miami turnovers and came one step closer to locking up their second division title in a row.

 

10. Denver Broncos (9-5)
Denver’s defense continues to dominate, holding another opponent to 14 points or less. They’ve done that seven times this season.

 

11. Washington Commanders (9-5)
With Austin Ekeler on injured reserve, should the Commanders look outside the team for replacement? Clyde Edwards-Helaire was just waived and could provide some of the same skills.

 

12. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
Seattle really can’t withstand a loss of Geno Smith at this point in the season. Their playoff hopes rely on him extremely.

 

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
The Bucs have scored 30 or more points seven times this season. Their ranked fourth in total points scored.

 

14. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
The Rams could wrap up a playoff spot if they win these next two games. If Seattle loses, that opens up the door for the Rams to secure the NFC West division.

 

15. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
The Chargers playoff hopes are in trouble after getting ransacked by the Buccaneers. Luckily the teams chasing them are losing as well.

 

16. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
The Cardinals look like world beaters when they play teams under .500. They’re 5-0 versus those teams this season.

 

17. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
The Falcons fans can’t be happy with the way they won the game on Monday night. Yes, they’re happy for the win, but you can’t be happy with the performance.

 

18. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
The Bengals have a top five scoring offense and the second to last scoring defense. That probably sums up the Bengals’ season right there.

 

19. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
Would the Colts have won the game if Jonathan Taylor didn’t fumble the ball? The answer is probably not, but the Colts needed every opportunity on Sunday to win that game and that was a bone headed play.

 

20.  Miami Dolphins (6-8)
The Dolphins had an outside shot to make the playoffs, but they most likely had to win the rest of their games. Although it’s not official, they’re probably out of time now with three games left.

 

21. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
Can Brock Purdy really demand the type of money that the market dictates? If you take his last four games as an example, the answer is no.

 

22. Dallas Cowboy (6-8)
Mike McCarthy probably hasn’t done enough to keep his job past this season, but he’s doing the best he can with a flawed roster full of holes. Anything short of a Super Bowl appearance would’ve probably been a death sentence for McCarthy anyway.

 

23. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
The Saints turn the ball over as much as they force turnovers. They’re in the middle of the pack in both categories.

 

24. New York Jets (4-10)
After the classic performance from Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, the Jets are now set for an offseason of turmoil. There’s a scenario where Rodgers wins the rest of this year’s games and the front office thinks this same formula could work next year.

 

25. Chicago Bears (3-11)
The Bears don’t have much to show for a season that should’ve been more productive and victorious. Maybe they should’ve made the move at head coach before the season started.

 

26. Tennessee Titans (3-11)
The Titans are benching Will Levis (again). Mason Rudolph will take over as the starting quarterback (again). Tennessee will surely be looking for another quarterback this offseason (again).

 

27. Carolina Panthers (3-11)
With nothing else to play for this season, Carolina has one job and one job only. They have to see if they can really move forward with Bryce Young at quarterback.

 

28. Cleveland Browns (3-11)
The saddest day ever has come. There will be no more Jameis Winston post game interviews after he was benched for Dorian Thompson-Robinson going forward. Everyone loses.

 

29. New England Patriots (3-11)
Hopefully New England will give Jerod Mayo an opportunity to right the ship next season. It would be a shame to get rid of him after one season.

 

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
Jacksonville would be picking fourth in the draft if it was today and if there is one thing they need it’s star power. Now I don’t know who that player is that would be available in the draft, but Jacksonville needs that star rookie and maybe a top notch free agent to add to this team.

 

31. New York Giants (2-12)
The Giants should really start worrying about their draft positioning. You can’t just let Las Vegas take the number one slot.

 

32. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
The Raiders’ offense consists of Brock Bowers  and bunch of other guys. Bowers needs ten more catches to reach 100 and 32 yards to reach 1,000. Rookie of the Year?

 

Offensive Player Of The Week
Davante Adams- Wide Receiver, New York Jets
9 catches, 198 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns

 

Defensive Player Of The Week
Edgerrin Cooper- Linebacker, Green Bay Packers
7 total tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2 pass deflections, 1 interception, 22 return yards